For the Quarter Ending March 2023
North America
Sodium Lignosulphonate prices saw a downward trend throughout Q1 2023 under the influence of low demand and muted queries from international markets. Instead of an abundance of supplies in the regional market, the prices were not seen inclining in the North American region. Market sources revealed that traders were getting cheaper cargoes due to pessimism hovering around the globe related to the recession, especially in USA and Europe. Furthermore, demand remained lackluster from the construction sector, and traders had already procured enough cargo. Sodium lignosulphonate prices were assessed at USD 624/MT during March, i.e., end of the quarter.
APAC
Sodium Lignosulphonate prices saw a downward trend in the first quarter of 2023. As per the data, Sodium lignosulphonate prices fell effectively and hovered around USD 217/MT during March on a FOB basis. Ample product availability in the country has affected the pricing dynamics of several commodities, including sodium lignosulphonate, in the regional market during Q1. Demand for the product remained moderate, and a marginal improvement in demand was overserved in the later part of the quarter In comparison to the previous months. However, enough availability didn’t let the price of the product show any positive price variation during the quarter in the region.
Middle East
The sodium Lignosulphonate prices in the Middle Eastern region were assessed at 652/MT on a CFR basis during Q1 2023. During the slowed economic activities and wavering offtakes, the Sodium Lignosulphonate demand in the construction sector remained muted. Ample supplies remained a major factor behind this price movement during this order. Furthermore, the price of feedstock Sodium Hydroxide also remained low to moderate and hovered in a stable range. A smooth flow of cargo was observed in the European market during Q1. Furthermore, market participants maintained a negative pricing momentum for the first quarter due to weak demand fundamentals and muted spot activity globally amidst competitive market circumstances and high stock levels.
For the Quarter Ending December 2022
North America
Throughout the fourth quarter of 2022, Sodium Lignosulphonate prices in North America remained to fluctuate. According to the data, the price of Sodium Lignosulphonate initially dropped in October and November as a result of a largely domestic product supply and weak domestic downstream sector demand. According to market sources, the product demand from the construction industry downstream remained low, which allowed dealers to cut their prices because they had been rising in the previous quarter. Prices for Sodium Lignosulphonate were estimated to be USD 741/MT in the US market.
APAC
In the fourth quarter, the APAC region's Sodium Lignosulphonate price trend showed a continuous fall. On a FOB Qingdao basis, the Chinese market prices were said to be circling around USD 200/MT. In the Chinese market, where there was little activity, the price of Sodium Lignosulphonate fell as a result of the negative market sentiment. The pricing dynamic changed in accordance with the downstream demand as the region's demand for the building industry remained moderate. The Indian market, on the other hand, remained stable to soft over this timeframe since the product's fundamentals of demand remained low.
Europe
Prices for Sodium Lignosulphonate in Europe remained low in Q4 due to a global slowdown in the downstream construction sector. Market activity for Sodium Lignosulphonate was seen to be minimal due to the persistently weak demand. However, because of high input costs and consumer inflationary pressure, prices remained constant for the firm throughout the fourth quarter. The dynamics of supply and demand remained severely depressed in the meantime, implying a drop in prices for the entire quarter. As a result, despite a modest demand from the regional market, the price of Sodium lignosulphonate remained stable.
For the Quarter Ending September 2022
North America
The price of Sodium Lignosulphonate (SLS) in the North American region saw an increment in the third quarter of 2022, supported by rising demand and a plentiful supply in the domestic market. During the initial quarters of quarter 3, the downstream paper industry's demand remained unchanged. However, the region was concerned due to logistical issues and rising feedstock costs, which pushed prices up. During Q3, the oil additive segment's consumption volumes and those from the feed industry both stayed constant.
Asia
In the third quarter of 2022, the price of Sodium Lignosulfonate stayed on a firm note in the Asian market due to steady demand from the downstream construction industry. The primary force behind the price volatility was the decline in demand from local merchants in the Indian market. The cost of raw materials had declined, further supporting the reduction in the product price. Order from the construction sector remained stable to firm in the international markets, directly impacting the prices of Sodium Lignosulphonate in India. During the latter half of the quarter, the supply situation turned bearish as manufacturers reported lower amounts of Russian imports. Hence inventory level was limited.
Europe
Due to plentiful product supply in the nation and low to stable domestic demand, a slight price decline in Sodium Lignosulphonate was seen during this quarter. According to market sources, the recent actions taken by various governments to reduce inflation and the effects of the global economic recession have caused international dealers or procurers to be cautious about future acquisitions. In Europe, there was little demand for Sodium Lignosulphonate from sectors like paper and building. Construction activities in the area were slowed down; in some places, output levels were shallow due to the weather. However, for European producers, rising feedstock costs remain a significant worry, followed by increasing freight and production expenses.
For the Quarter Ending June 2022
USA
Sodium Lignosulphonate market dynamics sustained an uptrend during Q2 2022 in the USA, owing to high inflationary pressure amidst stable demand from the country's construction sector. A steep rise in the price of several commodities was observed during the past few months under the steep increase in upstream natural gas costs. It observed that natural gas prices witnessed a steep price escalation during the quarter's final month, which compelled manufacturers to raise their product prices to sustain profitability. However, despite high inflationary pressure, Sodium Lignosulphonate prices remained stable during June 2022 due to ample inventories amidst mild demand from the domestic market. As per the ChemAnalyst data, the Sodium Lignosulphonate price hovered around USD 846/MT during May 2022.
Asia
Sodium Lignosulphonate prices kept on tracing an uptrend throughout the second quarter of 2022 in the Asian market owing to global market disturbances amidst stable offtakes from the domestic market. According to the ChemAnalyst market sources, Indian traders revealed that, under the influence of feeble offtakes during the first half of the quarter, they were trying to keep the prices stable to sustain offtakes from the niche buyers. Further, under the influence of intense heat, the Indian construction sector has slowed marginally, leading to low product consumption across the domestic market from a particular segment. Meanwhile, the Chinese market remained disturbed due to the sudden rise in pandemic cases in the country, which shut down the country's economic activities and reduced offtakes from the downstream construction and paper industry. ChemAnalyst data shows Sodium Lignosulphonate price hovered around USD 903/MT in India during May 2022.
Middle East
Stable demand from the regional market and rising inflationary pressure on global key players have compelled them to raise their product prices. Sodium Lignosulphonate price kept rising this quarter, owing to an acute increment in product cost. The middle eastern region has been facing inadequate availability of shipping containers for a long time, which has put a further price burden on traders, diminishing their profit margins. However, it was observed that trade activities tumbled effectively since China's lockdown started, injecting optimism about ease in global freight charges. Consequently, In Germany, the Sodium Lignosulphonate price was assessed at around USD 775/MT in May 2022.
For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
North American market primarily influenced by rising inflationary pressure on manufacturers due to high raw material cost coupled with anticipated disturbance in trade activities all across the region. Sudden escalation in crude oil value, as Russia announced special military operations on Ukraine, prices of several commodities skyrocketed under the pressure of soaring upstream cost. Traders were getting anxious regarding steep rise in prices of several commodities, due to looming threat of supply disruption in the global market, as operation may get halted due to ongoing war near Black Sea. Thus, post witnessing steep rise in prices, Sodium Lignosulphonate prices assessed around USD 757/MT during February. However, further price escalation is expected in next quarter under the influence of rising tension between two countries.
Asia Pacific
Consistent price revisions have been observed in Sodium Lignosulphonate in Asian market since January 2022, primarily driven by inflationary pressure amid stable to firm offtakes from the domestic market. Construction activities in China bounced back during the January-February month, owing to ease in coal related hurdles and dual energy policy restrictions in the country. Despite of spring festival in the country, builders maintained overall inventory level to sustain uninterrupted construction activities in the country. Sodium Lignosulphonate price heard hovered around USD 260/MT on Spot purchases in China during February. In the meantime, taking pressure from rising input cost in the global market on the back of hike in prices of imported commodities, Sodium Lignosulphonate prices rose effectively throughout the quarter in India. Expensive imports coupled with rising freight cost remained prime factors behind these significant hikes in prices across Indian market.
Middle East
Huge burden of Inflation has been on construction sector since the Russia Ukraine conflict escalated. Middle eastern Sodium Lignosulphonate players witnessed frequent price revisions under the influence of changing demand supply pattern coupled with oscillating global crude oil value. As per the ChemAnalyst data, consistent hike in price of Sodium lignosulphonate was observed during first two month of this quarter which later declined by the mid of March. This fall was driven by changed market dynamics in China, led to a fall in global crude oil value coupled with widened demand supply gap. Sodium Lignosulphonate price was assessed around USD 763/MT CFR basis during February.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
Despite firm offtakes from the domestic market Sodium Lignosulphonate price kept it downtrend continue throughout the second half of the quarter in USA. North American construction sector has been robust since a long time, that supported the consistent offtakes from the domestic market, which supported the price uptrend during first half of Q4. However, export activities from USA to other countries especially Asian remained dull, which resisted any price uptrend. Furthermore, Sodium Lignosulphonate availability remained ample to US market, which also supported this sharp decline in domestic market. Thus, Sodium Lignosulphonate price stood around USD 771/MT during December.
Asia
Construction activities in China resumed effectively during December again after a prolong period of speculations, which restarted the demand for construction chemical in the country. However, before the actual demand arise, prices kept on rising due to unavailability of material in the country. Further, during November, construction sector declined due to their own flaws, which has now started showing optimism. Thus, these resumption in construction activities has opportune traders to raise their offers, which stood around USD 275/MT FOB Qingdao during December. Meanwhile in India, post resumption in industrial activities, in effect of decline in new pandemic cases in India, Sodium Lignosulfonate price escalated unexpectedly till the end of October. In addition, spiralling freights cost, and crippling container availability also exacerbated the overall price scenario in the country. However, monsoon season led to a steep decline in demand during November and December, and prices slipped radically in domestic market.
Europe
European construction industry revamped during the month of November, as supply contains seems to be temporarily vanished. During November, demand fundamentals for most of the construction related chemicals improved significantly including Sodium Lignosulphonate. However, spiralling freight price and rising input cost eventually led to steep rise in prices of Sodium Lignosulphonate during this quarter. In addition, exorbitant hike in energy prices remained a major concern for regional market players, which was compelling them to pass on this price burden on consumers. Thus, Sodium Lignosulphonate price rose effectively throughout the quarter across European market.
For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
In the North American region, the prices of Sodium Lignosulphonate (SLS) witnessed a marginal increment in the 3rd quarter of 2021 backed by the increased demand and abundant supply in the domestic market. Production of SLS has been strong since the second quarter. In terms of demand, it has been stagnant from the downstream paper industry during the first half of quarter 3. However, logistical problems and soaring feedstock costs caused concern across the region, thereby pressuring prices to go northwards. Consumption volumes from the feed industry remained stable along with the oil additive segment during Q3. In the first week of August price of SLS was assessed at USD 765/MT FOB Texas.
Asia
The Asian market observed a significant rise in the prices of Sodium Lignosulphonate during the third quarter of 2021 on the back of the consistent demand from the downstream construction sector. In India, the pricing trend traced an upward trajectory in the last week of August, supported by modest to firm demand from the domestic market, while facing domestic scarcity. Post resumption in industrial activities, in the effect of a decline in new pandemic cases in India, Sodium Lignosulfonate prices escalated unexpectedly in India and shot up from USD 908/MT to USD 1072/MT in Q3 2021. In addition, skyrocketing freights costs, and crippling container availability also exacerbated the overall price scenario in the country.
Middle East Africa
In Middle East Africa, the pricing trend of SLS continued to rally upwards during the 3rd quarter under a strong pull from the demand side and surging raw material cost. As per the market experts, the concrete admixture market remained challenging in Q3 despite global demand recovery post-COVID due to continued supply constraints in key raw materials and high freight costs. Translating gains in the Sodium Lignosulphonate pricing, several downstream concrete admixture producers increased their prices for various construction chemical product lines. In September, CFR Jeddah offers have been settled at USD 700 per MT due to underlined factors.
For the quarter Ending June 2021
North America
Sodium Lignosulphonate (SLS) market showcased mixed sentiment in this quarter across North America region, bolstered by improved offtakes from the downstream manufacturers. Initially, during the month of April and May, prices kept rising due to supply shortage of upstream in USA. However, prices dragged normalcy in June with improvement in production activities from the US Gulf coast. In addition, in the meantime, manufacturers revealed that their margins declined due to market competitiveness and soaring feedstock cost. Thus, prices of SLS were accessed at USD 805/MT during the last week of June in USA.
Asia
Sodium Lignosulphonate market remained firm throughout the quarter across the APAC region during Q2 2021. In China, strong economic rebound pushed up the demand from the domestic construction sector. Meanwhile in India, prices declined during the month of May, under the pandemic mayhem in the country, that reduced the overall consumption of SLS. In May, sudden implementation of lockdown restrictions dented the overall demand from the construction chemical intermediate segment, which later improved during the month of June. Thus, prices of SLS revolved around USD 808.4/MT during June 2021 in India.
Europe
European market also had firm sentiments for Sodium Lignosulphonate during this quarter, backed by stable offtakes from the domestic construction sector. The demand from the downstream segments improved week over week, as the economic activities rebounded from the dull sentiments caused by pandemic. However, rising feedstock prices, followed by soaring freight and production cost also remained a major concerned for European manufacturers in the meantime.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
North America
North America had a firm demand for Sodium Lignosulphonate, dominated by paper and food segment of the regional market. Despite plants turnarounds and shortage of the feedstock chemicals amidst winter chills, supply remained consistent and satisfying all the need. However, prices showed a significant improvement during this quarter as the competitive market conditions led it to rise from USD 760/MT (January 2021) to USD 780/MT (March 2021) across Texas, USA. The raw material rates, extended small gains in the quarter but limited availability remained the key price driver.”
Asia
Prices of Sodium Lignosulphate (SLS) received firm support from the global uptrend as the product availability from the overseas stood restrained by a combination of factors during Jan-Mar period. Lack of Chinese shipments due to Lunar year holidays was heard tightening the powdered SLS supply throughout Asia which had already been on a bullish note due to soaring freight and currency fluctuations. Demand, majorly driven by the recovering construction sector led the prices to rise and reach USD 305/MT in the Chinese Market during March. Similarly, in Indian markets prices rose by more than 7% within the quarter and hovered around USD 569/MT.
Europe
The European market registered low demand for Sodium Lignosulphonate market from segments like paper and construction. Rapid surge in COVID cases and strict lockdown restrictions slowed down the construction activity of the region, even some places faced low production activities due to weather conditions. Traders indicated towards tightness as major European plant went offline, forcing buyers to plan for alternatives amidst widening demand-supply gap.
For the Quarter Ending December 2020
North America
A large number of small-scale industries are involved in the manufacturing of sodium lignosulphonate like Flambeau. Due to ease in lockdown, the paper and pulp industry regained stability, and the production of by-products Lignosulphonates consequently increased. Following the ease in availability of raw material, the production of Sodium Lignosulphonate also strengthened. The import of Sodium Lignosulphonate from European countries also increased, and the prices were observed to have increased in Q4 2020 in comparison to Q3 2020.
Asia
Demand for Sodium Lignosulphonate in the Asian market in Q4 2020 increased in comparison to the Q2 and Q3 2020 because of an appreciable increase in demand for concrete mixture and cement segments. As the construction industry regained stability in Q4 2020, the growth of Sodium Lignosulphonate increased in Asian countries like China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, etc. China being one of the leading traders of Sodium Lignosulphonate also experienced growth in its export demand across the region. Even though the petroleum industry was heard under pressure, owing to the oil and drilling activities, prices of Sodium Lignosulphonate have remained range bound.
Europe
Stuck by a new strain of Coronavirus, Europe imposed a partial lockdown in November in several part of the region due to which the paper and pulp industry remained closed. Owing to strict trading and travelling restriction and non-availability of raw material, the supply of the product was observed to be negligible. As an alternative, Calcium Lignosulphonate is being used in the end-use industries due to the easier availability of the raw material Calcium Hydroxide in comparison to sodium hydroxide.
